Killer Cell Immunoglobulin-Like Receptor (KIR) Genotype Distribution in Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) Patients

The War Is on: The Immune System against Glioblastoma—How Can NK Cells Drive This Battle?

Natural killer (NK) cells are innate lymphocytes that play an important role in immunosurveillance, acting alongside other immune cells in the response against various types of malignant tumors and the prevention of metastasis. Since their discovery in the 1970s, they have been thoroughly studied for their capacity to kill neoplastic cells without the need for previous sensitization, executing rapid and robust cytotoxic activity, but also helper functions. In agreement with this, NK cells are being exploited in many ways to treat cancer. The broad arsenal of NK-based therapies includes adoptive transfer of in vitro expanded and activated cells, genetically engineered cells to contain chimeric antigen receptors (CAR-NKs), in vivo stimulation of NK cells (by cytokine therapy, checkpoint blockade therapies, etc.), and tumor-specific antibody-guided NK cells, among others. In this article, we review pivotal aspects of NK cells’ biology and their contribution to immune responses against tumors, as well as providing a wide perspective on the many antineoplastic strategies using NK cells. Finally, we also discuss those approaches that have the potential to control glioblastoma—a disease that, currently, causes inevitable death, usually in a short time after diagnosis.

Natural Killer Cells in Systemic Autoinflammatory Diseases: A Focus on Systemic Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis and Macrophage Activation Syndrome

Natural killer (NK) cells are innate immune lymphocytes with potent cytolytic and immune-regulatory activities. NK cells are well-known for their ability to kill infected and malignant cells in a fast and non-specific way without prior sensitization. For this purpose, NK cells are equipped with a set of cytotoxic molecules such as perforin and apoptosis-inducing proteins. NK cells also have the capacity to produce large amounts of cytokines and chemokines that synergize with their cytotoxic function and that ensure interaction with other immune cells. A less known feature of NK cells is their capacity to kill non-infected autologous cells, such as immature dendritic cells and activated T cells and monocytes. Via the release of large amounts of TNF-α and IFN-γ, NK cells may contribute to disease pathology. Conversely they may exert a regulatory role through secretion of immuno-regulatory cytokines such as GM-CSF, IL-13, and IL-10. Thus, NK cells may be important target and effector cells in the pathogenesis of autoinflammatory diseases, in particular in those disorders associated with a cytokine storm or in conditions where immune cells are highly activated. Key examples of such diseases are systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis (sJIA) and its well-associated complication, macrophage activation syndrome (MAS). sJIA is a chronic childhood immune disorder of unknown etiology, characterized by arthritis and systemic inflammation, including a daily spiking fever and evanescent rash. MAS is a potentially fatal complication of autoimmune and autoinflammatory diseases, and most prevalently associated with sJIA. MAS is considered as a subtype of hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH), a systemic hyperinflammatory disorder characterized by defective cytotoxic pathways of cytotoxic T and NK cells. In this review, we describe the established features of NK cells and provide the results of a literature survey on the reported NK cell abnormalities in monogenic and multifactorial autoinflammatory disorders. Finally, we discuss the role of NK cells in the pathogenesis of sJIA and MAS.

KIR gene presence/absence polymorphisms and global diversity in the Kirgiz ethnic minority and populations distributed worldwide

Killer cell immunoglobulin like receptor genes expressed by the natural killer cells and T cells of some subclasses are one of the very diversity and complex gene families on chromosome 19q13.4 which play key developmental role in the fight against viral infections, malignantly transformed cells and so on in the first line. As potential markers, KIRs have received more and more attention for some infections and diseases which have some clinical outcomes. In addition, the KIRs are diverse in different populations due to the distinctive alleles and haplotypes, may contribute to understand the genetic relationships among populations. To data, there is no report on the KIR gene polymorphism of the Kirgiz ethnic minority. The purpose of this paper is to determine the KIR gene diversity: KIR gene presence/absence polymorphisms, haplotype/genotype polymorphisms and these polymorphisms between populations distributed worldwide. In this study, we have genotyped the 19 KIR genes: KIR2DL1-4, 2DL5A, 2DL5B, 2DS1-3, 2DS4*FUL, 2DS4*DEL, 2DS5, 3DL1-3, 3DS1, 2DP1, 3DP1*FUL and 3DP1*DEL, and two unique genotypes are found in two Kirgiz individuals. The PCA plot, Neighbor-Joining tree analysis and MDS plot are conducted and the groups of the same language family gather together basically. KIR gene diversity study of populations distributed in different parts of the world. shows that KIRs can be used as a supplement for human genetic researches.

Immunological Evaluation in Patients with Familial Mediterranean fever

OBJECTIVE:

This study aimed to investigate T & B lymphocyte subsets and Natural Killer (NK) cells patterns in children with FMF versus normal control subjects, to estimate the immunoglobulins IgG, IgM, and IgA levels, and to scrutinize the possible use of Neutrophil / Lymphocyte ratio (NLR) as a marker for subclinical inflammation in FMF patients.

PATIENTS AND METHODS:

A group of 42 patients with FMF attending the Genetics Clinic at National Research Centre were included in this study. They were 13 males and 19 females; their age ranged from 2 to 17 years old. Normal healthy subjects within the same age and sex range were included as a control group. Complete blood picture was done for all cases, and neutrophil/ lymphocyte ratio was calculated. Flow cytometer analysis was done for CD3, CD4, CD8, CD19 and CD16 using monoclonal antibodies. Immunoglobulins IgG, IgA and IgM were estimated in serum using nephelometry.

RESULTS:

Positive consanguinity was present in 20 patients (47.6%). Abdominal pain was the most common manifestation followed by fever, arthritis, and red rash. CD3, CD4 and CD8 were statistically increased in patients group as compared to normal control group, while CD16 was statistically decreased.

CONCLUSION:

The study suggests that quantitative measurement of CD expressions of CD3, CD4 and CD8 as well as NLR might be used as valuable markers for subclinical inflammation in FMF.